Marian as intersectional problem: Librarian stereotypes and stunted diversity
1. Marian as intersectional problem:
Librarian stereotypes
& stunted diversity
Nicole Pagowsky, MLIS, MS
LIS590DU Guest Lecture
October 28, 2014
2. librarianwardrobe.com
About Me
Faculty Librarian, Research & Learning Department
University of Arizona Libraries
student retention, general education, online learning, & subject liaison
@pumpedlibrarian
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
3. The Book
Published June 2014, ACRL Press
librarianwardrobe.com/book
Foreword & Chapter 1 as free OA PDF
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
8. A couple of minutes after the dawn of librarianship two
librarians started worrying about what other people
thought of them. They were suffering from what might
be called “reverse narcissism.” They did not so much
want to dive into the pond as flee from the ugly sight it
reflected (Fisher, 1993).
As cited in Pagowsky & DeFrain, 2014
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
10. That our stereotypes contribute to
PROBLEMS
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
11. External
Perceptions
• Students / patrons
• Campus / community
• Faculty / teachers
• News & media
• Funding
via matchstic.com
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
12. Internal
Perceptions &
Presentations
• Other librarian & staff
opinions, microaggressions
• Status & pay
• Hiring, recruitment
• Imposter syndrome
• Research and publishing
via matchstic.com
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
13. The Unbearable
Whiteness of
Librarianship
via Chris Bourg @
chrisbourg.wordpress.com
March 3, 2014
“For a profession that claims diversity
as a core value and declares that ‘We
value our nation’s diversity and strive
to reflect that diversity by providing a
full spectrum of resources and
services to the communities we serve’
to be so lacking in diversity is
embarrassing.”
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
14. More depressing
numbers…
via Chris Bourg @
chrisbourg.wordpress.com
February 22, 2014
*See blog for links to original sources
via Andromeda Yelton @
andromedayelton.com
September 17, 2014
*Looking specifically at keynotes
“Librarianship in general is 80%
female, while only 58% of
directors of ARL libraries are
female.”
“At national-scale US/Canadian
library conferences:
43% of speakers are female
74% of speakers are white, 14%
black, 7% Asian, 4% [Latin@]”
17. “…The perceptions
of the librarian
matter as much as
the image of the
institution when
people decide to
vote…”
-EveryLibrary
September 14, 2014
everylibrary.tumblr.com
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
18. Diversity
Identity
Hiring
Micro-aggressions
Presentation
The stories
we tell
Tattoos
Intersection-ality
Stereotype Impact
Pink collar
work
LGBTQ
Archives
Stereotype
obsession
Perceptions
Student
interaction
“Sexy” -
Porn &
censorship
“Cat ladies”
Overview of Chapters
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
20. References
Bourg, C. (March 3, 2014). The unbearable whiteness of librarianship [blog]. Retrieved from
http://chrisbourg.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-librarianship/.
Bourg, C. (February 22, 2014). Lack of diversity by the numbers in librarianship and in book stuff [blog].
Retrieved from http://chrisbourg.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/lack-of-diversity-by-the-numbers-in-librarianship-
and-in-book-stuff/.
Fisher, D. (1993). Book Reviews: Bruijns, R.A.C. Status and image of the librarian: Report of a sample
survey carried out in twelve countries. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 25(3). 155-
156.
(Cited in) Pagowsky, N. & DeFrain, E. (2014). Ice ice baby: Are librarian stereotypes freezing us
out of instruction. In the Library with the Lead Pipe.
http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2014/ice-ice-baby-2/
Pagowsky, N. (July 6, 2014). Hiring and retaining diverse talent by supporting risk [blog]. Retrieved
from http://pumpedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2014/07/hiring-retaining-diversity.html.
Yelton, A. (September 17, 2014). Counting keynoter diversity in libraryland [blog]. Retrieved from
http://andromedayelton.com/blog/2014/09/17/counting-keynoter-diversity-in-libraryland/.
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture
21. Questions?
Thanks! You can get in touch at:
nfp@email.arizona.edu | nicolepagowsky.info | @pumpedlibrarian
Nicole Pagowsky LIS590DU Guest Lecture